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USA church aims to expand to
Canada |
An American church expansion
into Muskoka is raising more than a few hallelujahs.
Jeremy McClung – with the support of the Brethren Church
headquartered in Ashland, Ohio – is heading up an expansion to
Huntsville, called the Muskoka Community Church.
The Brethren Church began in 1708 in Schwarznau, Germany under the
leadership of Alexander Mack. It combines the historic influences
of the Anabaptists and the Pietists.
One example of the Brethren Church teachings can be found on line:
Be careful when using church discipline. The case alleges that
Fort Worth minister C. L. “Buddy” Westbrook, a licensed
professional counsellor and pastor of Crossland Community Bible
Church, broke confidence when he wrote a letter to his
congregation directing church members to avoid contact with a
woman until “the time of repentance and restoration.” “The action
was necessary,” he wrote, “because she was engaging in a
biblically inappropriate relationship and seeking a divorce.”
McClung answered the following questions in an email interview
this week.
What is your background?
I grew up in Fort Erie, and spent several years in the U.S. after
graduating from university down there and marrying my wife, April,
who is from Indiana. I have been in ministry in one form or
another since then—sometimes full-time, other times part-time
(what is termed “bi-vocational” in ministry circles). We moved to
Huntsville from Winchester, Virginia in July 2007 to begin work on
this church. We’re not here to “compete” with the other churches
in Huntsville, but to find our own niche and work alongside them
in the community.
Do you have formal ministerial training?
Yes, my B.A., a double-major in Bible and Religion/Educational
Ministry from Huntington, Indiana - a small Christian liberal arts
university.
Are you ordained? If so by whom?
I am licensed as a pastor by the Brethren Church (based in
Ashland, OH). I am in the process of ordination.
What is the source of your income to support your family?
My previous church (the one I mentioned above, Grace Community
Church in Winchester, Virginia, www.gracecommunity.com), is
supporting me along with a few other churches and denominational
agencies. I felt a “calling” to come here to start this church, at
which point I developed a detailed plan and budget for the new
church, and proceeded to raise the support needed.
Have you ever started a church previously?
I led a church-planting effort in my early twenties that failed in
the first year (for a number of reasons including lack of support
- I was working a full-time “secular” job at the time). After that
I was part of a church-plant that has grown from its early days in
an elementary school gym to attendance of over 500 people (though
I joined when it was at around 100 people, and I was not the lead
pastor). I started as a volunteer and eventually became a
full-time associate pastor.”
They provided the time and resources needed to work on training,
planning and research when the idea of Muskoka Community Church
was just being conceived, and since then they have been closely
following the development of this church and cheering us on as
their first church plant.”
In all – three churches and the Brethren are listed as backing
this new adventure.
McClung said in emails last week to MuskokaTODAY: “The church is
not about money, and yet it needs money in order to operate
effectively.
“If you’re becoming a part of MCC, whenever you feel ready to do
so you’re welcome to become a financial contributor. All giving
will be held as strictly confidential by those involved in
bookkeeping, and receipts will be issued for income tax purposes.
Until we receive our own status as a charitable organization,
another church is assisting us in this area.
“Cheques can be written to ‘GB Canada’ with ‘Huntsville’ in the
memo line, and can be mailed to: GB Canada, Mississauga, ON.”
On Monday MuskokaTODAY: accessed a blog containing the following
information: “GB Canada Forms New U.S. Charity – The Grace
Brethren church-planting initiative in Canada has announced the
formation of a new U.S. charity, GBCanada USA.
“While we are excited about the formation of GBCanada USA, the
ministry here has been hurt in three different ways. Due to the
confusion over the rapid dissolution of GBNAM, our current support
is about 50% of what was previously budgeted. Second, the U.S.
dollar is at a 25-year low against the Canadian dollar so we must
now raise additional monies to make up for that loss in funds.
“And because of the loss of our sponsoring agency, we now must
bear the additional expense of administrating two organizations on
both sides of the border. We pray not only that our faithful
supporters will respond to the establishment of GBCanada USA but
that new supporters will join our team as a result.”
Nathan Bryant said, “Look for more exciting news how you can
participate in what God is doing in Canada, our neighbour to the
North.”
This is just the beginning, McClung points out.
“Starting a new church is an adventure requiring a lot of
committed people. It isn’t something one person can do alone.”
Missing from the Brethren Church Web site is a listing of their
church sites throughout the world.
There will be an information meeting on Sun., May 4 at 3 p.m.
upstairs at Robinson’s Independent Grocer in Huntsville. |
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